Justin Fields doesn’t appear to be getting the legitimate chance to compete for the Pittsburgh Steelers starting job he probably expected. Every indicator from team insiders says Russell Wilson will hold the job, and nothing short of an injury or complete implosion will change that. Fields is the primary backup. This is a problem from his perspective because the Steelers have no plans to pick up his fifth-year option. That means he will be a free agent in 2025, and no team will pay him big money if he doesn’t play this season.
That sounds like the worst-case scenario for Fields. Remember, he left Georgia because they wouldn’t let him play. When he started out on the bench in Chicago, he created tension with fellow quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Nick Foles. It is hard to know how he will react. That said, Mark Kaboly covers the Steelers for The Athletic. He believes Pittsburgh may have a plan on how to handle the situation. It involves appeasing Fields with a minor contract extension while they work to correct his flaws.
Fields is a curious case. He didn’t have his fifth-year option picked up, and rightfully so (it would have guaranteed him $25.7 million in 2025). His shortcomings over his first three seasons don’t warrant a lucrative extension. Still, if the Steelers use 2024 to determine whether he is the long-term answer at the position, they would lose all of their leverage by allowing him to hit free agency. The prudent thing to do is extend him now at a reduced price to ensure that he will be on the roster in 2025 without a huge risk to the salary cap. The Packers did that with Jordan Love, albeit before the fifth-year option deadline. Prediction: Extended
Love’s extension last year was worth $22.5 million, most of it in incentives. That protected the team from overpaying while giving the young quarterback opportunities to prove his worth. It was a win-win from Love’s perspective. Whether Fields sees it the same way is up for debate. Don’t forget he already has lots of playing time under his belt. He may feel he has more worth than Love did last year. Rather than wait things out, hoping the Steelers keep their word, he may wish to take his chances on the open market.
It worked out for Baker Mayfield. He gambled on himself with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, made the playoffs, and earned a lucrative extension. On the other hand, Geno Smith patiently waited his turn in Seattle and parlayed that into two productive years with the Seahawks. It comes down to how confident Justin Fields is he will get an opportunity somewhere else. If he isn’t sure, then taking Pittsburgh’s offer might be what is best for him.
